Means for positioning transferred fabrics on knitting machines



April 30, 1929- w. L. HOUSEMAN ET AL 1,711,022

MEANS FOR POSITIONINQ TRANSFERRED FABRICS ON KNITTING MACHINES FiledJune 19, 1928 MVENIW/PS Patented Apr. 30, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILBUR L. HOUSEMAN AND GEORGE I. BLAE'IZ, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA,ASSIGNORS TO SCOTT 8r WILLIAMS, INCL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATIONOF MASSACHUSETTS.

MEANS FOR POSITIONING TRAN'SFERRED FABRICS ON KNITTING MACHINES.

Application filed June 19,

This invention has for object to facilitale that operation, customary inthe normal use of knitting machines, whereby a fabric, knit on onemachine, is transferred to the needles of another machine, on which theknitting of the fabric completed.

As an example of a fabric thus knit on two machines may be mentioned astocking whose leg, ankle and foot are knit on one machine as acontinuation of a tubular ribbed top which has been knit on anothermachine; the ribbed fabric being remoyed from the second machine and theend loops thereof beiug transferred to the needles of the first machine,on which the knitting of the leg begins as an integral continuation ofthe ribbed top. ()ther examples may be cited involving the transfer fromone machine to another of different kinds of circular and flat knittedfabric.

The transfer operation is usually effected y means of a transfer deviceby which the terminal loops, selvage loops, or some other series ofloops, of a fabric knit on one machine may be strung on the needles ofanother machine. Where the transfer is effected onto a circular machine,the transfer de vice usually comprises a circularly arranged series ofquills adapted to lit over the leveled needles of the circular machine.In the transfcrring operation, the needles penetrate loops held open bythe quills and engage such loops in the needle hooks In the transferringope ation it is required that the loops shall be moved down over theneedle shank a definite distance, whether such needles are of the springbeard type or of the latch type. Such required positioning of the loopscannot be effected automatically by the transfer device. In the case oflatch needles, most of the cooperating sinkers or web holders are, atany given position of the needle cylinder. in a position to obstruct theslip page of the loops to the low position desired, and hand adjustmentof the transferred fabric, accompanied by a rotation of the needlecylinder, is required to accurately position the complete circle ofloops.

The object of this invention, more specifically stated, is to effect,automatically. the proper positioning on the needles of the loops of thetransferred fabric, and to accomplish this result without danger ofcutting the fabric.

1923. Serial No. 286,519.

A preferred embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the path of the noses of the sinkers or webholders in one rotation of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a front view of the cam for depressing the transferred fabricto the desired level with respect to the needles.

Fig. at is a plan VlCW of said cam.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a needle, its cooperating sinker, and asection of trans ferred fabric, the latter being in the position whichit assumes as a result of the operation of the ordinary transfer device.

6 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a needle, a cooperatingsinkensaid cam and a section of the transferred fabric in the positionto which it is depressed by the action of said. cam. i

The needle cylinder or other needle carrier a. is grooved to receive theindependent needles I). which are movable up and down in a normalknitting wave by camsnot shown.

Fastened to the needle cylinder is the sinker dial a, which carries thesinkers or web'holders d, which are movable radially, by means of a camf, m the usual manner, to cooperate with the needles to form stitches.The sinkwere described by the points of the holding down hooks or nosesc of the sinkers d in a complete rotation. i

A swinging frame carries the usual latch ring g and alsotho usualplatform It on which are mountciil a clamp and cutter (not shown)adapted to clamp and cut yarn, which is fed from yarn carriersaccommodated in a throat formed in the latch ring; one of the yarncarriers, i, beingshown in Fi g. 1.

All

- In the operation of transferring a knitted fabric, the pivoted latchriugi with the platform a, is lifted out of the way, the needles l) areleveled. and the transfer device (not shown) is applied. Since all (Ifthe sinker-s (Z exceptthose in the wave oil? retrzwtion indicated at y.Fig. 1, have their holddown hooks or noses 0 between the noodles, asslump in Fig. 5, it is obvious that the trainzfer device cannot depressthe loops of the 'tl'llli-9- ilerred fabric in below the plane of thenosee of the sinlrers, that is. below the position shown in Fig. 5. Itis unsafe to rely upon the subsequent knit-tihg movement of the needlesto position the fabric in proper relation to the sinkers. It 1stherefore, customary lor the operator to insert his hand within theneedle cylinder and pull. down the fabric, while re tating the needlecylinder, so that the transferred loops are all, brought to theposition, shown in Fig. 6, which will insure their bein in properposition with relation to noses of the siukers at the beginning of meimmediately following knitting operation. This is a difficult operation,involves a cert: 'a delay, and in the absence of care or skill may notbe properly performed.

In order to insure the pulling down of all the transferred loops to theproper level. and to effect this pulling down operation auto matically,we mount, on the platform It, a cam plate 7a which positioned just backof and spaced from, the needles, and opposite the throat of the latchring and BXlZGllClE-l along" a part of that are of travel of needles andshakers during which the sinkern are in the retracted posicion indicatedby the line y and shown in F 6. The lowest part of the lower convex earnedge of earn plate 7c is somewhat below the level of the noses e ofsinkere (i. The upper level of cam plate 70 should not be high enough tool'Jst-ruct delivery of yarn by a yarn carrier 2' either attransferrinor at the normal knitt' position of the needle-a. The clearance betweenthe lower cam edge of cam plate 7: and the upper edges of the arms ofthe sinhers saonld be sutlieient to accommodate the tranef fabric. Sincecain plate is acts upon only that part of the fabric which, at any giventime. is: opposite retracted sinkera. the ed go of the i'jrannferredfabric is free to be pushed down the needle shanks to thecorrectposition.

e are aware that a fixedly mounted earn for depressing; transferred.fabric positioned chine should be used for a thicker or different kindof 'l'ranslerrcd section from that for which it was deeigned andadjusted. lly making the earn ii; re-dlieutly yielding. a widm: range ofworl: can be better perim'nnul on the nunrhine; and the rain in can alsooperate in aid of lrnittiinr on machines in which the iii-at few courialter transfer and re- :uuued ltniil in do not securely take under thehooks of udi .-Zllll1.[ web holders as may happen when the yarns arestill and in'l'rznrtable. or the transferred section too light to aid inholdin down the 'c by grarity or tensile str 's. The resiliently heldcam A; may be re. d upon to keep the last conrae down on the needles anda few previoirsly knit couraos well down on the web holders at theknitting wave lu'oupglmut operation of the machine.

ln our invention, the cam plate /J in not directly secured to platforma. but is so fixedly mounted on plat-form it or other convenieut supportthat while it tends lo assume the lowest posit'on that is deairalle, itis capable of yielding i an up 'ard direction in. case the lirbrir ellre a more smbstantial reels ance to depreseion than in incidental. to

the slightres ance allorded by the tide-her 1' t of the needle alonwhich it is being pushed by the care. l ie'ierably the cam plate 70 madein the form of a horiz-zonlal plate having a downwuri 'ecting llan rewhose lower edge is 0011" y auaped to giro it the proper cam contou Thehorizontal plate is secured to the under side of a leaf: spring orwhich, at its rear end, is bent domiward and forward to form an end eat'on which secured to platform I by incann of screive or other fasteners21,. To facilitate the insertion of the screws the upper reach of thespring leaf is provided with holes 0 through which the screws maybeinserted. lho front of the spring leaf is secured to the horizontalmember of the earn plate by niieans of rivets r. E l'lending through thespring leaf and earn plate is an adjusting screw a, which ie held in.adjne l osition by means of a nut .lly this adpi. rnieane. the verticalposition of the care may be adjusted to the exact positioi'i that foundto be the most desiral lie in view of the t-hiclrneas of the transferredfabric. Very accurate adjustment is, however. not required. since, ifthe cam is so adjusted to be capable of assuming a somewhat lowerposition than is requirech it will yield upward against the pressure ofthe fabric.

ll hile it is preferred that the cam plate I]: and the leaf spring! onshall be separate members secured together it is practicable to lllllliQthese parts in one integral piece. This would require no other change inthe described construction except of course, the omission of theconnecting rivets '7.

It sometimes happens, in ordinary knitting, especially where the loopsdo not fairly tightl lll) llU n bl

ITS

all

ly engage the needles, that the fabric creeps above the level requiredto insure the proper cooperative action of the sinkers. l/Vith ourimprovement, this upward creeping action of the fabric will beprevented.

Havingnow fully described our invention, what we claim and desire toprotect by Letters Talent is:

1. In a knitting machine, the combination with relatively rotatableneedles and siulcers, and means for advancinp and retract sinkers, of arelatively nonrotatable support, and a device adapted to engage fabriclooped on the needles and effect a sliding of the needle-engaging loopsof such fabric along the needle shanks into predetermined positionsrelative to said sinkers While the latter are in retracted position,said device being yieldingly mounted on said support and adapted toreccde from its normal position against resistance of the fabric;

2. In a knitting machine, the combination with relatively rotatableneedles and sinkers, and means for advancing and retracting; thesinkers, of a relatively non-rotatable support, and a device adapted toengage fabric looped on the needles and effect a sliding of theneedle-engaging loops of such fabric along the needle shanks intopredetermined positions relative to said sinkers While the latter are inretracted position, said device com prising a spring mounted on saidsupport and adapted to yieldingly resist displacenient by the fabricfrom its normal position.

3. In a knitting machine, the combination with relatively rota-tableneedles and sinkers, and means for advancing and retracting the sinkers,of a relatively non-rotatable sup port, a device adapted to engagefabric looped on the needles and effect a sliding of the needle-engagingloops of such fabric along the needle shanks into predeterminedpositions relative to said sinkers While the latter are in retractedposition, said device being yieldingly mounted on said support andadapted to recede from its normal position against resistance of thefabric, and means to adjust said device to predeterinine its norrualposition.

In a knitting machine, the combination with relatively rotatable needlesand sinkers, and means for advancing and retractingthe 'nkers, of arelatively non-rotatable device adapted to engage fabric looped on theneedles and effect a sliding of the needle-engaging; loops of such.fabric along the needle shank into predetermined positions relatively tosaid sinkers While the latter are retracted,

a relatively min-rotatable support, and a flexible and elasticconnection between said support and said device.

5. In a knitting; machine, the combination with relatively rotatableneedles and sinkers, and means for advaneingmid retracting the sinker-s,of a relatively non-rotatable support, a cam adapted to engage fabriclooped on the needles and effect a sliding of the needle-engaging loopsof such fabric along; the needle slninks into predetermined positionsrelatively to said sinkers While the latter are in retracted position,and a tension device mounted on said support and adapted to vieldinglyhold said cam in its operative position.

6. In a knltting inachlne, the combination with relatively rotatableneedles and sinkers, and means for advancing and retracting the sinkers,of a relatively non-rotatable support. a device adapted to engage fabriclooped on the needles and effect a sliding of the needleengine-iup,loops of-said' fabric along the needle shanks into predetermined ipositions relatively to said sinkcrs while the latter are in retractedposition, a tension device mounted on said support and adapted toyieldingly hold said device in its operative position, and an adjustablemember adapted to be operated to predetei'inine the position in whichsaid device is normally held by said tension device. i

7. In a circular knitting machine, the combination Wi th a rotatablecircle of needles and sinkers, means to advance and retract the sinkers,and a non-rotatable platform within the circle of needles and sinkers,ofa radially extending leaf spring secured at its inner end to saidplatform, a plate secured to the outer end of said spring and having adepending part extending inside of and spaced from the path of rotationof the needles and provided with a lower eain edge adapted to engagefabric looped on the needles and effect a sliding of the loops of saidfabric along the needle shanks into predetermined position relatively tosaid sinker-s While the latter are in retracted position, said springyielding-Iv pressing said plate downward, and means providing; anabutment which prevents the plate being moved downward beyond apredetermined position.

In testimony of which invention, we have hereunto set our hands, atPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, on this 18th day of June, 1928.

WILBUR L. HOUSEMAN. GEORGE I. BLAETZ.

